(E1) (48) of formation.All the bird life I saw was around these drainage areas- very little on top of the ridges although they are heavily wooded.Most of the trees high up are very old and tall,however;the "scrub"is down in the vallies where the water flows.One common ground dove was taken; the Doctor saw three.The village is the most interesting thing about the is- land.It is the only one and extends all the way across a peninsular at southern end.The most extensive coconut grove is around the village it- self,although there are coconuts and gardens planted all over the island. The natives evidently visit them periodically on short trips;one finds many sheds for copra and poi manufacture along the numerous trails as well as rest houses for sleep.The leaf houses of the village extend. in orderly rows across the island forming several streets;each house has its food supply of yams,coconuts,and taro stored under the raised floor and a canoe resting close by.Each man heading a family has at least two meris and plenty of pickininnies.The village streets all conjoin at a point on the south shore around several communal houses;one is the Mis- sion station and the others are for the separate use of men,women,and children.The chief has a large domicile at this location and is the first to greet anyone coming ashore.Neither the meris or the children show any fear of the white man.I was impressed by the clean and healthy look of the little children;they were eager to accompany us into the bush.There were very few cases of yaws or skin disease of any kind and all seemed casually occupied with the duties of maintenance- the men cutting copra or working on houses or canoes,the meris carrying water or making poi for pudding,the children on their own taking it all in.Even their betel- nut trees are planted in little groves in the woods in back of the village and each shows the mark of its owner carved on the green bark.This reveals how well such a community fared in isolatio before the white man came;and in a rather unhealthy part of the group.This is their dry season and a number of men have died from the heat.Evidence of the dignity still ac- corded to the chief was shown by a dance held this evening to appease the testy god of the salt-water that recently upset the master's canoe and caused him to lose all his tobacco and his pipe.A number of women and children gaily decked with flowers and bright lavalavas were gathered around one female who beat tim by jumping and pounding the ground with a heavy piece of wood.There were a number of old men present and some few young taking part;the dance was nothing more than a monotonous sway- in of bodies to the slow rhythm of the beater;those in the rank closest to the drum held a kind of baton made of fibre matting rolled up.All re- vealed a considerable spirit of merriment.And there was community singing. Besides the few birds collected we managed to get six different kinds of lizards,five frogs,one a tree-frog,and a small variety of insects.There were fifty natives on board when we arrived,all laden with trade stuff- taro,yams,bananas,oranges,pineapples,pawpaws,and a sort of sweet potato. They soon exhausted the ship's supply of calico,which was what they want- ed most.I bought a pair of pearl fishhooks,some water bottles made out of clay and of coconut shell,and three adzes.We even secured five fowls and some eggs.The quality of this produce evidenced their prosperous state. The Chinaman proved a friend when he presented the ship with a nice little pig which will be stuck for Christmas. December 7 All ashore with instructions to shoot cockies,minas,and star- lings.I soon got into a stream and collected a pair of little flycatchers a yellow honeysucker,and a white-eared kingfisher.The latter were numer- ous about the mouth but very scarey.The majority of those that I have seen on other islands have been around the mouths of rivers or streams.Missed a perfect shot at a ground dove and met both G.R.,and Hicks,neither of